PLANT-A-BOOK INTERNATIONAL HELPS NAIROBI KIDS

Plant-a-Book International helps Nairobi Kids! This blog represents two registered nonprofit organizations, PAB and KKIN-UK, that provide support for the students at Galilee Primary School and Waddington High School, and children living in the Holly House orphanages in the slums of Nairobi Kenya. We are dedicated to lifting children from poverty through literacy and education. For more information, please visit PAB's website at www.plantabook.org.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Child of the Week



 Meet Meshack- HH462

Birthday – Unknown

Meshack is sixteen years old and is beginning Form 2 at Waddington High School.  Meshack’s family has faced serious challenges.  Therefore, he was allowed to come to live at Holly House so that he could attend high school.  Meshack is a good student and is currently in eleventh position in his class.  He enjoys playing football and dreams of being a university lecturer someday.  Meshack has been waiting for a sponsor since March, 2013.  Can you help Meshack achieve his dream of completing his high school education? 

You can sponsor Meshack for only $30 a month.  The Holly House sponsorship fee covers school fees, the cost of the child’s room, and three meals a day.  You will receive an annual photo and at least three letters a year from your sponsored child.  You will also be informed of the child’s grades in school.

For more information, please visit www.plantabook.org or email info@plantabook.org.
Please make a difference in the life of a child today!

~ Submitted by Brooke

Monday, February 3, 2014

“Share the Love” Valentine’s Day Textbook Drive!






 Let's have some Valentine's Day fun!

One of our primary goals for 2014 is to improve textbook ratios at Waddington High School and Galilee Primary School so that we can give our Nairobi Kids the tools they need to obtain a quality education.  By the beginning of 2014, the textbook ratio at WHS had fallen to approximately one textbook to every four students.  The ratio was better at GPS due to a large donation of textbooks in 2011, but students currently share at a ratio of approximately one textbook to every two students.

Many of our sponsors have answered our call for more textbooks by generously buying books for their own sponsored children and/or the classroom from our Online Shop.  However, Fanuel (the school director) reports that we still have some classes that are experiencing a serious shortage of texts  Specifically, Form 1 and Form 2 currently have the more dire need, as there are some classes for which there are very few texts.  In order to ensure that these students have the materials that they need to learn, we are holding a Valentine's Day Textbook Drive.

We are excited to announce that this year's Valentine's Day Drive will have two special features: 

1.  One of our sponsors has generously offered to match donations of up to 25 math texbtooks for each of Form 1 and Form 2!  With the match, this means that we have the opportunity to donate 100 math textbooks to WHS!  Math tends to be the most difficult subject for our WHS students, so increasing the number of math textbooks available will be a great help to the students.  Form 1 math texts are only $6.00 and Form 2 math texts are only $6.50.

2.    Each sponsor who purchases a textbook will have the opportunity to send their sponsored child(ren) a special treat for Valentine’s Day!  For an extra 50 cents per sponsored child, Fanuel (the school director) will make sure that your sponsored child receives a lollipop on Valentine’s Day and will convey the message “Happy Valentine’s Day from your sponsor.”  The children love lollipops and they will be thrilled to know that their sponsor was thinking of them on Valentine’s Day!

Details:
Donors may identify a specific subject, grade, and/or recipient for their textbook donations if they choose.  General donations to the textbook fund of any amount are also greatly appreciated, and will be used first to buy textbooks under the matching program described above, and second to buy textbooks in subjects where Fanuel identifies the greatest need.  We do request a minimum donation of $6.00 plus 50 cents per sponsored child in order to participate in the lollipop portion of the drive.  Please have all donations in by February 11, 2014 in order to give Fanuel adequate time to purchase the candy and coordinate the list of children to receive the special treats.

Donation Instructions:
To donate one or more textbooks, click the “Donate” button to the right of this post and specify “Textbook Drive” in the memo section.  If you would like your sponsored child(ren) to receive a lollipop on Valentine’s Day, please add 50 cents per child to the cost of the book(s).  Please also email Brenda (PAB director) at info@plantabook.org with your order details, including books purchased (or general donation to textbook fund), recipient (if specified), and sponsored children to receive a lollipop (include full name, ID number, and class level).

Thank you for your support!
Happy Valentine's Day!

~Submitted by Brooke


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Letter of the Month Club



Welcome to the Letter of the Month Club (LOTMC)!  This is a monthly feature on the blog that we hope will help you develop a deeper relationship with your sponsored child through letter-writing.  Since we are all in different stages of getting to know our sponsored kids, we have several suggested topics so that you can choose the one that works best for you and your sponsored child.  We have also provided suggestions for “extras” to send along with your letter, and questions to ask your sponsored child.  Words in blue will take you to appropriate links.

This Month’s Topics:
Getting to Know You: Your Country
Provide your sponsored child with some basic information about your country.  Where is it located?  What are its most significant geographical features?  What language(s) is spoken?  What is the population?  When was your country founded?  How did it gain its independence?  What are the primary exports/industries in your country?  What is your country “known for” internationally? 
Suggested Extras: Picture of your country’s flag; or country map
Questions to Ask: Ask your sponsored child to tell you about Kenya.

Topic in Focus: Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia (February 7-23, 2014)
Share the excitement of the upcoming Winter Olympics with your sponsored child.  What is your favorite event?  Does your country excel at any particular event?  Have you participated in any winter sports?   
Suggested Extras: Clipping or printout of story on the Winter Olympics; or miniature flag of your country
Questions to Ask: What Olympic event sounds the most interesting to them?  Are there any winter sports they would like to try one day?

Holiday/Seasonal: St. Patrick’s Day
Teach your child about the life (and legend) of St. Patrick.  Is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in your country?  If so, how? 
Suggested Extras: St. Patrick’s Day greeting card; stickers; or wordsearch.
Questions to Ask: Is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in Kenya?

Reminder: The purpose of the LOTMC is to facilitate getting more letters in the mail to our Nairobi Kids, so please do not get bogged down in worrying about writing the perfect letter or gathering the “extras.”  If you are short on time this month, just drop a postcard or greeting card in the mail with a few short lines to let your Nairobi Kids know that you are thinking of them.  

~ Submitted by Brooke